[Medieval America] The State of Alaska from /r/vexillology Top comment: * System of Government: Clan

[Medieval America] The State of Alaska

from /r/vexillology

Top comment: * System of Government: Clan-Based Feudalism * Head of State: Governor, selected from the ruling Evans clan * Population: 90,000 * Religion: Laskan Orthodoxy * Totemic Symbol: Moose Juneau’s relative prominence prior to the Regression was basically a fluke. It simply had the good fortune of being a mining camp of respectable size that had the good fortune of being kind of near to the continental United States by virtue of its position in the Alaskan Panhandle. Had it not been for these strokes of fate, had the US acquired the territory a bit later, Juneau no doubt would’ve shared the fate of countless other mining camps. But history occurred as it did, a post office and courthouse were built, and it was off to the races. When the New Medieval Age arrived, one could be forgiven for assuming that Juneau would sink into irrelevance, but that is not what ended up happening. Juneau had several things going for it. Firstly, it was a fairly decent port. Second, its position allows it to control most of the passages into the inland of British Columbia and the Yukon Country. Though the city itself is of course inaccessible by land, it is put in a very central locale to govern the mountain passes that grant access to the riches of the interor, including the Yukon. Third, the name of “Juneau” still had some resonance of prestige for other tribes. But perhaps the most important factor was the Laskan Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church in Alaska goes back to the Russian colonial period, but was long a minority religion. With the collapse of America and the consequent loss of faith in Old World beliefs, the Orthodox Church’s rigid worldview enjoyed increased currency, and it was from Juneau that they would assert themselves. Clergymen baptized the barbarian war-lords and influenced them to see things Juneau’s way. Perhaps the final straw was the conversion of the green-thumbed sages of Fairbanks, whose agricultural wonders inspired faith in many Laskans. Most of these conversions occurred in the early dies of the little ice age that came not long after the Regression. The works of Orthodox missionaries were pivotal in establishing a Pan-Laskan identity and communication networks that would lead to the Great Raids. A famous tale holds that the omen for the Raids was given to the governor of Juneau was a double-headed bald eagle. Whatever the case, he contacted his counterpart in Ankrage and Sitka, and made this arrangement: he, as spiritual leader, would be the Governor, the official ruler of the whole of the Laskan people. The mighty warlord of Ankrage would be made President of Hosts, master of battle. And the pirate-king of Baranoff Castle would be made the Admiral of all Laska’s ships. Together, they would lead their men down south-a-way for plunder and booty. And so it was, and so the unofficial system that governs Laska was born. As time has gone on, first Ankrage became the upstart, essentially seizing control over all serious matters from Juneau and eroding their influence. Then, the upstart Ketchikan broke the system entirely when it asserted its independence from Sitka and Juneau, and both powers couldn’t do much to stop it without the help of Ankrage. And of course, if the Ketchikanders aren’t bad enough, Juneau must constantly compete with Baranoff to maintain control of the isles. For the governor, now an impotent figure head, the Palace of the White Whale and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas has lost much of its luster. Its all a show being run by Ankrage at this point, but Ketchikan could call curtains any day now.